title: Several mechanical manipulations of the wall of the inner ear do not affect air and bone conduction auditory thresholds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  According to classic theories, auditory stimulation, whether air- or bone-conducted, has been thought to begin with sound-induced relative motion between the cochlear shell and the stapes footplate, producing a passive mechanical traveling wave along the basilar membrane. This study was designed to assess the effect of experimental mechanical manipulations of the cochlea on the auditory thresholds to air-conducted and bone-conducted stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The left ear of Psammomys obesus (highest auditory sensitivity between 0.5 and 5.0 kHz) was initially ablated in all animals studied. After baseline recording of auditory nerve-brain stem evoked response (ABR) thresholds to air- and bone-conducted broadband click stimulation from the right ear, a hole was drilled in the vestibule of that ear in 3 animals. In 2 other animals, the round window of the animals was immobilized. In 3 additional animals, the round window was widely perforated. Repeat ABR thresholds were then determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no change in ABR thresholds to both air- and bone-conducted stimulation following these manipulations. The ABR wave latency also did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is likely that an alternative mode of cochlear excitation is possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Cahtia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adelman
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sohmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000502:physiology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005849:Gerbillinae